Make It A Furry Mother's Day

Moms are always tough to buy for. Flowers die, candy is fattening, and a new vacuum cleaner just might be misinterpreted.

But if you're looking for a truly unique Mother's Day gift, one that will literally keep on giving, why not consider a gift certificate for a dog, cat, puppy or kitten from the Payson Humane Society? Not only are they furry, cuddly, soft and in need of that special brand of love only a mother can give, but you just might be saving an animal from being euthanized.

Once again, PHS has reached a point where animals will have to be put down unless the pace of adoptions picks up fairly dramatically. Dogs, especially, are in danger, according to Cristy Maldonado, animal supervisor.

"They're coming in for one reason or another, either strays or being abandoned," Maldonado said. "A couple came in on Saturday who were tied to a dumpster in front of Circle K."

In fact, it's day-to-day with the shelter's dogs. All it will take is a day like one last week -- when six dogs arrived -- to mandate euthanization.

"The dog pens are full and we've doubled up where we can," Maldonado said. "We have more in the back ready to be brought up for adoption, but we just don't have any room for them."

"We have a lot of puppies," Maldonado said. "We have three Husky pup mixes, we have four Aussie mixes, and we have three Shar-Pei mixes. Then we have five more puppies in foster care that are coming at the end of this week and that will fill up the pens. We think they're Catahoula lab mixes."

A total of 48 kittens are waiting to reach adoption age and will be available in two to five weeks.

The society recommends gift certificates so the recipients can choose their own pets. They cost $70 and include spaying or neutering, all shots and an identification microchip.

Animals over five years of age are just $50, as are members of the Lonely Hearts Club -- dogs and cats who have been at the shelter a long time.

"We've also got a couple cats that are sponsored so they're free," Maldonado said.

Whenever the Roundup has run stories about too many animals at the shelter at 812 South McLane Road, our readers have responded. We know we can count on you once again -- especially on Mother's Day.

(The shelter has plenty of food right now, but with all the kittens en route, donations of cat litter are needed. The cheapest brand is fine.)